Urine capture and containment system

Abstract

A urine capture and containment system comprises a receptacle and an absorbent material located within receptacle. The receptacle and absorbent material are positioned together as a unit proximate a urinal such that at least a portion of dripped urine is contained within an inside volume of the receptacle and absorbed by the absorbent material. The receptacle is configured, for example, to be secured to a floor surface, for example, proximate the urinal.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application makes reference to, and claims priority to and the benefit of, U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/226,716 filed Aug. 21, 2000.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0002] The above-referenced U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/226,716 is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] For years, there has been an existing problem in restrooms—the dripping of urine onto the floor beneath toilets. This has resulted in an unsightly, unsanitary hazard on the floor surrounding urinals and toilets. The collection of liquid causes unpleasant odor as well as unnecessary stains beneath the urinal, which often result in damage to the floor. In addition, the spillage is often spread by user's shoes to other areas of the restroom floor as well as to other non-restroom floors. Left untouched over periods of time, this spillage causes permanent discoloration, unpleasant odors, and unsanitary bacterial growth - resulting in the need for more frequent cleaning (an added expense to management responsible for the maintenance of the restroom). Thus, there exists an obvious need for a method of capturing dripped urine and controlling urine runoff in restrooms.

[0004] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional urinal systems will become apparent to one of skill in the art through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Aspects of the present invention may be found in a urine capture and containment system. The system comprises a base and an absorbent material positioned with the base. The base and absorbent material are in turn positioned together as a unit proximate a urinal such that at least a portion of dripped urine is absorbed by the absorbent material. The base is configured, for example, to be secured to a floor surface, for example, proximate the urinal.

[0006] In one embodiment, the base unit may be, for example, a receptacle having at least one side wall and an inside bottom surface, which together form an inside volume of the receptacle. The absorbent material, which may be a sponge for example, rests within the inside volume on the inside bottom surface of the receptacle. At least a portion of urine spilled is contained within the inside volume of the receptacle and absorbed by the absorbent material.

[0007] Other aspects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments are considered in conjunction with the following drawings.

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a urine capture and containment system in accordance with the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 2A illustrates one possible positioning of the system of FIG. 1 on a restroom floor proximate a urinal.

[0011] FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of the positioning of the system described in connection with FIG. 2A.

[0012] FIG. 2C illustrates a top view of the positioning of the system described in connection with FIGS. 2A and 2B.

[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of the receptacle of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a urine capture and containment system in accordance with the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the urine capture and containment system of FIG. 4 in accordance with the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 6A illustrates an alternative embodiment of the urine capture and containment system of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 6B illustrates a further alternative embodiment of the urine capture and containment system in accordance with the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a receptacle for the urine capture and containment system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a urine capture and containment system in accordance with the present invention. The system 101 comprises a receptacle 103 and an absorbent material 105. The receptacle 103 generally has a side-wall 107 and a bottom inside surface 109 connected to the side-wall 107, that form an inside volume 108. The absorbent material 105 fits inside an open end 111 of the receptacle 103, rests on the bottom inside surface 109, and is contained within the inside volume 108. Once assembled and placed in a position proximate a urinal, the receptacle 103 captures dripping urine, which is absorbed by the absorbent material 105 and contained within the inside volume 108 of the receptacle 103. The system 101 therefore assists in preventing urine spillage on the restroom floor and associated runoff. The absorbent material 105 may, when saturated, be easily removed from the receptacle 103 for replacement.

[0020] The receptacle 103 may be made of a plastic or other liquid-proof material that is preferably non-corrosive. The absorbent material 105 may be a sponge or other liquid absorbing material, such as, for example, B quality compressed sponge available from 3M® Corporation. While the receptacle 103 and absorbent material 105 combination is shown in FIG. 1 as being generally circular in shape, it may be any number of different shapes, as discussed more completely below, for example, and still fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2A illustrates one possible positioning of the system 101 of FIG. 1 on a restroom floor 201 proximate a urinal 203. The system 101 is placed beneath the urinal 203 such that it is located on the floor 201 directly underneath a forward portion 205 of the urinal 203, and generally midway between first and second ends 207 and 209, respectively, of the urinal 203. This floor position represents an area where urine is commonly dripped. To use the urinal, an individual still positions himself in front of the forward portion 205 of the urinal 203, and now places his feet on either side of the system 101 at foot positions shown generally by reference arrows 211 and 213. These positions are generally the same as are naturally used without the system 101 in place.

[0022] FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of the positioning of the system 101 described above in connection with FIG. 2A. As can be seen, the system 101 is also placed so that a larger portion thereof is located generally in front of a forward end 215 of the urinal 203. This position assists in capturing the maximum amount of urine that is dripped and not otherwise captured by the urinal 203.

[0023] FIG. 2C illustrates a top view of the positioning of the system 101 described above in connection with FIGS. 2A and 2B. As is apparent from the figure, a larger portion of the system 101 is located in front of the forward end 215 of the urinal 203. Of course, it should be understood that while this positioning is shown in the figures, other positionings are possible and fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of the receptacle 103 of FIG. 1. To position and secure the receptacle 103 on the floor, a pair of adhesive strips 301 and 303 may be used on a bottom surface 304 of the receptacle 103 as shown in FIG. 3. These adhesive strips may be double-sided tape, for example. One type of double-sided tape that may be used is Scotch® brand VHB™ foam tape available from 3M® Corporation. Of course other types of adhesives or glue, such as epoxy, may also be used to secure the receptacle 103 on the floor. In addition, non-adhesive fasteners, such as Velcro™ or traditional screws, for example, may also be used.

[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a urine capture and containment system in accordance with the present invention. A system 401 comprises a receptacle 403 and an absorbent material (not shown in FIG. 4), as discussed above with respect to system 101, that is located proximate a urinal 404. System 401, however, additionally comprises a latching mechanism 405 for suspending the system 401 from a forward end 415 of urinal 404. The system 401, in an installed position as shown in FIG. 4, is located beneath an outer edge 417 of the forward end of urinal 404. The system 401 located as such intercepts and captures urine that ordinarily drips to the floor 419. The latching mechanism 405, may be one or more brackets that fit over a lip 421 of the forward end 415 of urinal 404 and attach to the receptacle 403, as shown in FIG. 4. The latching mechanism 405 may also be a clamp, hook or any other type of fastener, or may be an adhesive material, as discussed above. In addition, the latching mechanism 405 may itself be a molded portion of the urinal that simply attaches to the receptacle 403. The latching mechanism 405 and receptacle 403 may further be integrated into a single assembly, through molding or other means.

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the urine capture and containment system 401 of FIG. 4 in accordance with the present invention. As can be seen, the system 401 is suspended beneath the urinal 404 by a pair of brackets 501 and 503 that operate as the latching mechanism 405. As shown, the brackets 501 and 503 simply fit over the lip 421 and attach to the receptacle 403. While the system 401 is shown in FIG. 5 as being generally circular in shape, other shapes are contemplated and fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 6A illustrates an alternative embodiment of the urine capture and containment system of the present invention. The embodiment of FIG. 6 is similar to that of FIGS. 4 and 5, except that the shape of receptacle 603 (and correspondingly, the shape of absorbent material 605) generally conforms to the shape of an outer surface 607 of urinal 609.

[0028] FIG. 6B illustrates a further alternative embodiment of the urine capture and containment system in accordance with the present invention. A system 621 comprises a receptacle 623 that is positioned proximate a urinal 625, similarly as shown above. In this embodiment, however, the receptacle 623 is molded as an extension of the bottom or outer surface of a urinal 625. In this case, an absorbent material 627 is simply placed in the molded receptacle 623 forming part of the urinal 625. The embodiment of FIG. 6B eliminates the need for a separate latching mechanism and receptacle discussed above. Of course, although an exemplary shape and size of receptacle 623 is shown in FIG. 6, any number of different shapes and sizes may also be used and still fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a receptacle 701 for the urine capture and containment system of the present invention. In the case where the receptacle 701 is positioned on the floor as discussed above, the shape of receptacle 701 enables a user to place his feet at locations 703 and 705 during urination. In the cases where the receptacle 701 is suspended under the urinal or molded as a part of the urinal, as discussed above, the shape of receptacle 701 enables a user to place his legs at the locations 703 and 705 during urination. Thus, the shape assists in proper and efficient positioning of a user above the urinal while providing an optimal amount of coverage to protect against urine spillage or runoff..

[0030] In view of the above detailed description of the present invention and associated drawings, other modifications and variations will now become apparent to those skilled in the art. It should also be apparent that such other modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A urine capture and containment system comprising:

a receptacle having at least one side wall and an inside bottom surface, the at least one side wall and inside bottom surface defining an inside volume of the receptacle; and

an absorbent material located on the inside bottom surface of the receptacle and within the inside volume of the receptacle, the receptacle configured to be positioned and secured proximate a urinal to capture and contain urine spillage within the inside volume of the receptacle, the absorbent material configured to absorb at least a portion of the urine captured and contained within the inside volume of the receptacle.

2. The urine capture and containment system of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is generally circular in shape.

3. The urine capture and containment system of claim 1 wherein the receptacle has two side portions, a rear portion, and a front protruding portion located distally to said rear portion.

4. The urine capture and containment system of claim 3 wherein the front protruding portion defines first and second foot placement areas when the receptacle is positioned proximate a urinal.

5. The urine capture and containment system of claim 3 wherein the two side portions are generally parallel and the rear portion is generally perpendicular to the two side portions.

6. The urine capture and containment system of claim 3 wherein the two side portions, the rear portion and the front protruding portion define a shape of the inside bottom surface.

7. The urine capture and containment system of claim 1 wherein the receptacle has two side portions, a rear portion, and a front portion located distally to said rear portion, the front portion defining first and second foot placement areas when the receptacle is positioned proximate a urinal.

8. The urine capture and containment system of claim 7 wherein the two side portions are generally parallel and the rear portion is generally perpendicular to the two side portions.

9. The urine capture and containment system of claim 8 wherein the two side portions, the rear portion and the front protruding portion define a shape of the inside bottom surface.

10. The urine capture and containment system of claim 1 wherein the absorbent material has a shape that generally follows a shape of the inside bottom surface.

11. The urine capture and containment system of claim 1 wherein the absorbent material comprises a sponge.

12. The urine capture and containment system of claim 1 further comprising a non-skid outside bottom surface for securing the receptacle proximate a urinal.

13. The urine capture and containment system of claim 1 further comprising an outside bottom surface and a non-skid member positioned on the outside bottom surface for securing the receptacle proximate a urinal.

14. The urine capture and containment system of claim 13 wherein the non-skid member comprises at least one piece of double-sided tape.

15. The urine capture and containment system of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is configured to adhere to a floor surface when positioned proximate a urinal.

16. A urine capture and containment system comprising:

a base; and

an absorbent material positioned with the base, the base and absorbent material configured to be positioned proximate a urinal such that at least a portion of dripped urine is absorbed by the absorbent material.

17. The urine capture and containment system of claim 16 wherein the base is configured to be secured proximate a urinal.

18. The urine capture and containment system of claim 17 wherein the base has a non-skid bottom surface.

19. The urine capture and containment system of claim 17 wherein the base has a bottom surface and a non-skid member positioned on the bottom surface for securing the base proximate a urinal.

20. The urine capture and containment system of claim 16 wherein the absorbent material comprises a sponge.